STATING THESIS STATEMENT

AND OUTLINING TEXT

QUARTER 3 – MODULE 4
PREPARED BY: MS. JOE ANN D. SOLAMILLO
 OBJECTIVES:
• state the thesis statement of an academic text;
• create an outline based on the given details; and

• demonstrate confidence in stating thesis statement

and outlining texts through accomplishing the tasks.
 Defining the Thesis
Statement
• is the central idea of an essay, around which
all other ideas revolve.
• It is not just the most important idea; it also
controls the essay by determining what
should you include in your work. In one
sentence, it reveals and summarizes the
argument you intend to develop and defend.
 Defining the Thesis
Statement
• reflects your purpose for writing.
• It is a constant reminder of your main point and your stand,
directing the entire flow of your writing.
• It should be clear that the thesis statement is not the subject or
topic itself, but an interpretation of the topic.
• A strong thesis statement usually contains an element of
uncertainty, risk, or challenge (Ramage, Bean and Johnson
2006:34). This means that your thesis statement should offer a
debatable claim that you can prove or disprove in your essay.
Formulating a Thesis Statement
The thesis statement
comes as a result of pre –
writing. It is the product of
thinking about your ideas,
seeking evidence, and
looking for relationships
between these.
 Example

“High school seniors who join the Reserve

Officers Training Corps program develop
better leadership skills because of the
discipline instilled in them by the program.”
How will you know if your thesis
statement is strong?
 Characteristics of an Effective Thesis Statement

Below are the characteristics of an

effective thesis statement:
1. Responds to the
2. Expresses the main idea
assignment by following
in one to two sentences A
instructions Going back to
the instructions can assure thesis statement should be
you that your thesis comprehensive yet concise
statement is relevant and because you will be
addresses what your spending the rest of the
teacher has prescribed. paper proving your point.
 Characteristics of an Effective Thesis Statement

Below are the characteristics of an

effective thesis statement:
3. Focuses on a specific 4. States a stand on
issue Your thesis the topic. It must
statement should only reveal your attitude
discuss one or a few toward the topic.
related issues.
Characteristics of an Effective Thesis Statement

Below are the characteristics of an

effective thesis statement:
5. Says something meaningful by
answering the questions:” So what?” “
How?” “ why?” Your thesis statement
should be able to substantiate your
claims by providing the reader
evidence, or an idea of how you intend
to support your stand.
 Characteristics of an Effective Thesis Statement

Below are the characteristics of an

effective thesis statement:

6. Previews the rest 7. Reflects a tone and

of the essay by being point- of –view
appropriate to the
placed in the
identified purpose and
introduction. audience
 More guidelines on Writing Thesis
Statements
1. Avoid making an overly–opinionated stands.
While a thesis statement needs to reveal your
attitude toward the topic, be careful not to go to
the extremes and write a thesis statement with an
exaggerated claim. This is because you need to
prove your thesis statement first, and avoid
imposing your opinion on the reader. Ex. The
officers of the Reserve Officers Training Corps are
 More guidelines on Writing Thesis
Statements
The officers of the Reserve Officers
Training Corps should exercise more
responsibility toward their authority by
being sensitive to how they lead their
fellow students. (correct)
 More guidelines on Writing Thesis
Statements
2. Avoid making announcements. Sometimes, it
is just easier to tell your reader what they
intend to write about. You might say, “In this
essay, I will be discussing the benefits of joining
the Reserve Officers Training Corps.” The
problem with this statement is that it does not
specify what those benefits are or what your
attitude toward the subject is.
 More guidelines on Writing Thesis
Statements
3. Avoid stating only facts. Do not rely on
facts in your thesis statements because you
will not have much room for discussion.
Remember that facts are generally not
debatable as opinions. It must contain a
position that your readers can oppose.
 Defining an Outline
• An outline reveals the coherence and complexity of an essay. It
requires the ability to locate the main ideas of the text.
• In the same manner, it involves knowing how to distinguish ideas
according to their level of importance in the text.
• It is a summary that gives the essential features of a text.
• It shows how the parts of a text are related to one another as parts
that are of equal importance or sections that are subordinate to a
main idea.
• It is usually done before you write the first draft of your essay.
• However, you can only outline something if you understand it.
Steps that you can follow in creating a reading
outline.

1. Read the entire text first. Skim

the text afterwards. Having an
overview of reading’s content will
help you follow its structure
better.
Steps that you can follow in creating a reading
outline.

2. Locate the main idea or thesis of the whole

essay.
• Look at the title of the text.
• Look for heading, if any.
• Look for information that answers the
question, “What is the text talking about?”
Steps that you can follow in creating a reading
outline.

3. Look for key phrases in each

paragraph of the essay.
Steps that you can follow in creating a reading
outline.

4. Locate the topic sentence of

the paragraph.
Steps that you can follow in creating a reading
outline.

5. Depending on the length of

the text, look at the topic
sentences and group them with
related ideas together. See if
they describe a process or are
examples.
 Steps that you can follow in creating a reading
outline.

6. To logically organize information, the contents of the reading

are arranged according to levels. A level refers to the number
of ranks in the hierarchy of information in the reading. Provide
a general group name for each group of topic sentences. These
will be the main divisions of your outline, or the first level.
Label these with a Roman numeral. The topic sentences will be
the subtopics, or the second level. Label these with capital
letters.
Steps that you can follow in creating a reading
outline.

7. Evaluate the supporting details

provided.
8. Go back to the text after you have
finished your outline.
 Example:
Antigone and Her Morality Thesis: Antigone is a tragic
heroine who believes in her moral duty to the gods over
her duty to the state and is willing to suffer the
consequences in order to do what is morally right.
I. Antigone's justification of action
A. Her defiant speech against law of man
B. Her argument through Divine Law
 Example:
II. Hamartia Theory
A. Antigone's tragic flaws
B. Human responsibility for action
C. Chorus points out character flaws
III. Divine injustice and the moral
problem
A. Action involves suffering
B. Acknowledging moral order of the
 TASK
Direction: Supply the missing word or group of words to complete the following
statements. Choose your answer below.

facts strong thesis statement

outline
debatable evidence

1. The _______________comes as a result of pre – writing. It is the product of

thinking about your ideas, seeking evidence, and looking for relationships
between these.
2. An ____________ reveals the coherence and complexity of an essay.
 TASK

3. A ___________thesis statement usually contains

an element of uncertainty, risk, or challenge
(Ramage, Bean and Johnson 2006:34).
4. The Thesis statement should offer a _____claim
that you can prove or disprove in your essay.
5. Do not rely on _______in your thesis
statements, because you will not have much
room for discussion.